Apparatus for propelling and steering boats



Aug. 22, 1944.

G. BRASE APPARATUS FOR PROPELLING AND STEERING BOATS Filed Sept. 18 1942 2 Sheets-Sheet l xNvENToR Geog@ .Erase Wi T52/ml;

Aug. 22, 1944. G ERASE 2,356,301

APPARATUS FOR PROPELLING AND STEERING BOATS Filed Sept. 18, 1942 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 lNvr-:NToR George rase BY i Patented Aug. 2z, 1944 ,APPARATUS FOB PBOPELLING AND STEERING BOATS George Brace. Fresno, Calif.

Application September' 18, 1842, Serial No. 458,890

2 Claims.

'I'his invention relates in general to improved apparatus for propelling and steering boats.

' In certain types of boats, particularly those of shallow draft intended for use in shallow water, and for landing on beaches or the like, conventional depending propellers. drive shafts. and steering rudders are undesirable, due to the possibility cf grounding thereon, with probable resultant damage.

It is therefore the principal object of this invention to provide high'pressure hydraulic apparatus in a boat arranged to eilect, by high pressure jet discharges, both the propulsion and steering of the boat, eliminating the need for mechanical propeller-s and rudders depending into the water below the boat.

Another object of this invention is to provide, in combination with a boat having a unique bottom design, a novel amusement of water intakes, and a discharge Jet to effect forward propulsion of the boat; there being other jets disposed to accomplish reverse propulsion, as well as steering of the boat.

A further object of the invention is to produce a simple and inexpensive device and yet one which will be exceedingly eiiective for the purpose for which it is designed.

These objects Iaccomplish by means of such structure and relative arrangement of parts as will fully appear by a perusal oi' the following specilication and claims.

In the drawings similar characters of reference indicate corresponding parts in the several views:

Figure l is a top plan outline of a boat showing, diagrammatically, the propulsion and steering apparatus.

Figure 2 is a bottom plan view of the boat so equipped.

Figure 3 is a stern end view of the boat.

Figure 4 is a fragmentary longitudinal section showing one of the water intake scoops.

Referring now more particularly to the characters of reference on the drawings, the numeral I indicates a boat which includes a bottom 2. Buch bottom, from a point some distance ahead of the center of the boat, is formed intermediate its sides and symmetrical to the longitudinal center line, with a tunnel 3 which extends to the stern S. This tunnel 3 gradually increases in height and width from its forward end and to the stern of the boat and is preferably relatively shallow and concave. as shown.

A jet 4 is mounted in the forward end of tunnel I. and above the plane of the boat bottom immediately ahead of the tunnel; such iet being positioned to discharge substantially horizontally and rearwardly into the tunnel.

Within the boat there is mounted a largecapacity, high-velocity pump I which is driven by a shaft I from a suitable power plant 1. The discharge side or outlet of the pump is connected by a conduit or manifold 8 with the Jet 4.

Water is supplied to the pump l in the following manner:

Water pick-up scoops l, preferably two in number, are mounted on the bottom 2 on opposite sides of the tunnel 3 adjacent the forward end of the latter; such water pick-up scoops being of substantially Venturi configuration, with the enlarged end foremost. A pump feed conduit Il leads from the intake of the pump and separates into laterals il which connect with fittings I2 in the bottom 2 of the boat, and which fittings are in communication with the scoops 8 substantially centrally of the latter. The average cross sectional area of the scoops is somewhat greater than the internal diameter of the laterals Ii, whereby to assure an adequate and full supply of water in said laterals, and conduit I0, with forward movement of the boat.

A valve i3 is interposed in conduit 8. and it will be seen that with actuation of the pump l by power plant l, when said valve is open, that water from scoops 9 will be drawn -into laterals I i, con duit i0, and forced by the pump 5 at high velocity through conduit 8 and out of jet l. As the water discharges at high velocity from jet 4 rearwardly through tunnel 3, it strikes the water within said tunnel, causing a forward propulsion of the boat. Due to the employment of the tunnel 3 no substantial portion of the water pressure from jet 4 is lost, it being confined within said tunnel t0 effect a maximum forward propulsion of the boat; the aring of the tunnel as described assuring eiliciency.

To accomplish a reverse propulsion of the boat the following arrangement is embodied: 4

A conduit il is connected with conduit 8 ahead of valve i3 and branches into a pair of forwardly extending conduitsy i5; the forward ends lio of conduits i5 projecting out of the boat I on opposite sides thereof adjacent but short of the bow. These conduits are disposed at ends ita to discharge forwardly and b elow the water line. A valve i8 is interposed in conduit Il. During operation of the boat, closing of valve i3 and opening of valve i6 will result in water being discharged through conduits i5, out of ends ISG, and reverse propulsion of the boat.

Steering of the boat by means of the hydraulic pressure developed by pump 8 is effected through the medium of a pair of conduits I1 which extend within the boat substantially the full length thereof. The forward ends I8 of conduits I1 turn outward and discharge through the boat ln a lateral direction adjacent but short of the bow below the water line.

Within the boat and adjacent the stern the conduits cross each other or reverse, as shown at I9. and the adjacent ends 20 of said conduits discharge laterally through the boat adjacent the stern below the water line. Feed pipes 2| lead from conduit or manifold 8 ahead of valve I3 to conduits I1, and each pipe 2l has a valve 22 therein. By opening one valve 22 or the other, the boat can be effectively and quickly steered to the right or left, for the reason that water discharges at conduit ends IB and 2t adjacent the bow and stern of the boat below the water line, but on opposite sides.

Due to the positioning of all of the valves in adjacent relation, the operator from a given point in the boat can readily manipulate said valves to effect either forward or rearward propulsion of the boat, or steering thereof.

If desired, multiple tunnels, in side by side relation, may be employed in wide beam boats; and likewise the number of water pick-up scoops 9, discharge jets d, etc., may be increased if found desirable, l

Also, the cross-sectional shapeV of the tunnel may differ from that shown, as may be found to give the best results.l

From the foregoing description it will be readily seen that I have produced such a device as substantially fullls the objects of the invention as set forth herein.

While this specidcation sets forth in detail the present and preferred construction of the device,

assaaoi still in practice such deviations from such detail may be resorted to as do not form a departure from the spirit of the invention, as defined by the appe' lded claims.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new and useful and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. Boat propulsion apparatus comprising a pump mounted in the boat, means in the boat to drive the pump, a forwardly facing water pickup scoop mounted exteriorally on the bottom of the boat, a conduit connecting between the scoop and intake of the pump, the bottom of the boat having a longitudinal tunnel therein extending forwardly from the stern, the pick-up scoop being separate from and disposed to one side of said tunnel, a jet mounted on the boat adjacent the forward end of the tunnel and positioned to discharge rearwardly therethrough, and another conduit connected between the jet and the outlet of the pump.

2. Propulsion apparatus for a boat having a bottom formed in part as a longitudinal tunnel extending forwardly some distance from the stern, a pump mounted in the boat, means in the boat to drive the pump, a pair of forwardly facing water pick-up scoops mounted on the bottom of the boat, said scoops beine,` separate from and disposed in symmetrical relation on opposite sides of the tunnel adjacent the forward end of the latter, conduits connecting said scoops in communication with the intake of the pump, a jet mounted on the boat at said forward end of the tunnel and positioned to discharge rearwardly therethrough, and another conduit connected between the jet and the outlet of the Dump.

GEORGE BRASE. 

